George W. Bush continues to use the bully pulpit of the presidency to speak about Cuban freedom:
WASHINGTON (AFP) — US President George W. Bush on Monday paid tribute to women who have defied the governments of Belarus, Cuba and Myanmar, promising US help as they “stand up for the freedom of their people.”
He honored the wife of jailed Belarus opposition leader Alexander Kozulin, Irina, who died of cancer last month, aged 48; ailing Cuban dissident Marta Beatríz Roque Cabello; and Myanmar democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi.
“Americans are inspired by the examples of these women,” Bush said. “We will continue to support their work, and the work of women across the world who stand up for the freedom of their people.”
The US president’s remarks came during a White House ceremony marking Women’s History Month…
Turning to Cuba, Bush praised Marta Beatríz Roque Cabello, saying she had survived Fidel Castro’s “dungeons” and that she “knows that freedom is not going to come to Cuba by trading one oppressive Castro regime for another” — a refered to Castro’s handover of power to his brother Raul.
“And today I have a message for the people of Cuba: Viene el día de su libertad. Your day of freedom is coming. And until that day, the United States will stand with all the dissidents working together to bring freedom to Cuba, including a brave woman named Marta Beatríz Roque Cabello,” said Bush.
And who cares Henry, besides us?
Today news is not about that it is about the Governor of New York, Madonna,and the Us Election
From: The Real Cuba
http://www.therealcuba.com/
“Thank God for the embargo!
The Institute for Cuban and Cuban-American Studies at the University of Miami has just published Cuba’s foreign debt as of the end of 2007.
All the countries that have provided credit to the Castro regime, are losing their shirt.
Here are some of the countries that Castro owes money to (All figures have been converted to US dollars and rounded up to the million:
Venezuela $8.009 Billion; Spain $3.184 Billion; Japan $2.358 Billion; Argentina $1.967 Billion; China $1.770 Billion; France $1.671 Billion; Russia (post Soviet) $817 million; Mexico $520 million; Italy $446 million; UK $416 million; Germany $339 million; Czech Republic $317 million; Iran $296 million.
The total list adds up to $23.844 Billion!
Why is the US not on that list? Because everything that Castro buys here he has to pay cash!
So, next time someone tells you how much money we are losing by not providing credit to Cuba like many other countries do, show them this list.”
Who cares? Well gee why do we blog if nobody cares. Why do we conduct BUCL campaigns to have a few articles written?
Don’t you see that every time the president mentions Cuba it’s like 10,000 BUCL campaigns?
Coño.
Firefly I printing the list, laminating it and sticking it my purse. Thanks
What i meant was How many people are getting the message, plus do you really think that Raul Castro will change a bit just because Bush said something. Henry los comunistas cuando se empecinan en algo no lo abandonan. Tienen las armas y el control. 50 años han pasado y nada. El pueblo cubano se acostumbro a las migajas. El pueblo no se puede tirar a las calles. El cubano no esta ready for that. Cambiara algo? Solo si los que gobiernan lo desean, We are fu_ __. Why we blog? Because we want to . Because we denounce, Because we believe? Thats why we blog and do BUCL campaigns.. By the way is there a new Bucl campaign in the Horizon I dont know about it, let me know
Coño, I’m losing my patience. The purpose of BUCL campaigns is to counter the propaganda from the regime. It’s to get coverage for the plight of Cubans. Do a google news search for Bush Cuba and you’ll see more search results from the last two days than all of the BUCL campaigns we’ve done to date.
Did apartheid end in south africa because the people took to the streets? In case you don’t know, the answer is NO. It ended because of international pressure. Yes, I understand that the US is the ONLY country trying to put pressure on Cuba. But the point is the president builds public awareness that can turn into international pressure.
Otherwise what the FUCK do you suggest we do? Elect Raul Martinez and Barack Obama so they can do away with the embargo and lend castro inc. $10 billion so they can buy weapons and tanks and continue to abuse the Cuban people for another 49 years.
Wake up dude.
Henry, you are 100% on the money. Bush gave a press conference Friday about Cuba, gave Biscet the medal of freedom and had another press conference several months ago about Cuba, plus today’s speech. That’s more than other presidents have ever done, as insignificant as it may seem.
And don’t forget Sec. Gutierrez who proudly wears his cambio bracelet and brings up Cuba in speeches when he travels abroad. Cripes, somebody has to call attention to the regime, the president should be encouraged to continue. That’s a more publicity that any blog or campaign could ever hope for.
Claudia
Elect Raul Martinez and Barack Obama so they can do away with the embargo and lend castro inc. $10 billion so they can buy weapons and tanks and continue to abuse the Cuban people for another 49 years.
Henry Cuba tiene suficientes tanques y personal para reprimir al pueblo as it is. mira yo antes pensaba como tu , I was very critical of the whole situation. But after seeing the Transition masquerade that the Habana Gansters have created I have come to the conclusion that it is either DO NOTHING AND GIVE UP or try a different approach. Listen I am no electing Obama , iam not even voting . Si el es seleccionado hay que preguntarle a los millones que votaron por el. Lo que no me gusto de Mc Cain es que el dijo que no hablaria con los cubanos. entonces que nos queda no dialogue, same thing we have had for 50 years , WORDS, WORDS , WORDS , and the cuba people dying y poniendose viejos. Entonces que queda un Mc Cain que engage. Ahora, si tu me dices que Mc Cain va hacer algo como mismo Uribe esta acabando con las Farc entonces yo lo apoyo 100% y hay miles maneras de hacer eso. Mira, fidel lo dijo , entramos con las armas y con las armas nos tendran que sacar . y asi sera, These people will not succumb to international presure ni ocho cuerto, Cuba IS NOT SUDAFRICA, CUBA IS NOT THE SOVIET UNION , esta gente esta ahi for long road . ideologicamente speaking a menos que surga algo violento todo continuara . Hey this is my personal opinion only. dont take it personally
I dont have to prove myself to anyone que lo que mas quiero en este vida es ver a Cuba libre . Libre de comunistas para siempre. Bastante daño ya hicieron
I’m happy to see Bush using the Office of the President to highlight the plight of political prisoners in Cuba. At the same time, I’m sad nothing substantive was done in the past seven (7) years.
Things like rescinding the Kennedy-Khrushchev pact of 1962 that literally obligated the US to protect Cuba against US subjects funding or aiding subversion within Cuba. The Russians were in dire straights 6 years ago and may have agreed with some “incentive.”
That alone could have made a difference by now. Plus there are a lot of really smart, really resourceful people in this country that given a nod by a sitting president would have made all kinds of things happen.
Sadly, it now appears a Demorat will be in the White House soon and chances are better than even the Embargo will be no more, 24 months or less from her taking office. Get ready to welcome the Cuban ruling-elite to Miami as they dine in our restaurants and buy our condos.
In closing, I do appreciate Bush’s gestures of support. At least they seem genuine, even if there is nothing he can really do as a lame duck.
Get ready to welcome the Cuban ruling-elite to Miami as they dine in our restaurants and buy our condos.
I do not see that happening at all . If Hilary is elected SHE WILL NOT REMOVE THE EMBARGO..unless Raul makes significant improvements inside of Cuba . Hillary wil be tough, Remember her husband Bill , he did not remove the embargo back then, and now he could be president Again.no reason to change course
You’re kidding right.
Time will tell. In the grand scheme of things, 24 months is not a long time. I’ll probably be less.
I can see the wives of the kuban ruling elite dining at Versailles and shopping at Bal Harbour Shops…
Yes, it will hurt.
Had an this very conversation last night with several Cubans of various ages, We were having a little going away party for a fine Marine headed to Iraq.
The prevailing attitude was the talk, while encouraging, isnt enough. But then the splits. Some want an immediate US invasion of Cuba, some want normalized relations and a slower reform pace and others want to wait and see what happens in Cuba.
The slower reform pace is completely out of the question in my opinion.
But Bush has been sending signals to the Cuban people and should a mass revolt start I THINK he would send in troops to “stabilize the situation”.
There will be violence…but US troops probably wont be involved unless shot at. In any case the majority of violence would be over very quickly.
Should this come to pass, and I think its very likely, the biggest problem will be exile groups/individuals headed to Cuba via boat or private planes(count me in this group)….and Cubans trying to get out anyway they can.
This is a nightmare the US guv and myself has feared for years. Thousands could die at sea and would be totally impossible to help them all.
In reality some very tough choices and no matter what happens it wont be pretty. But clearly time is running out.
CONO,
Many of you write in this blog all the time but you know S#$% about media relations and politics. I am not a right wing nut like my friend Henry….(well maybe a little)… but you guys really should listen to what he is saying. Everytime the President mentions Cuba our plight is brought to the forefront.
You have to understand the model of transition that Bush is following is that of Poland and the Czech Republic. Change HAS to come from inside the island. The US cannot invade, cannot alter its immigration and visa policies, and cant out right enforce title III. If we were to do that what do you think would happen?
1. With the anti-immigraton sentiment in the US, if we were to modify wet/dry foot a firestorm would ensume and migration would become the issue again. We have to stay away from this issue. Migration should not dominate anyone’s agenda. Dont you see this is a tool that Raul and Fidel use as an escape valve to release pressure. In fact if we tighten the pressure cooker heats up and we might get luck and have another Maleconazo…
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2. Title III of helms Burton and out right full embargo: If we enforce title III we will have the EU, Canada, China, etc… on our ass at the WTO and elsewhere. Spain is going to contiue to do business with Cuba with or without title III implementation. All we will do is alienate our allies and make the issue about Washington-Havana-Miami politics and property. The eveil Miami Mafia going back to take the property. Listen my family lost all their property to so I understand the concern. But we have to be smart about how we play this card. Before any property rights or compensation or anything is even discussed their must be a transition to a real democracy. Messing around with property arguments lends to the regime’s arguments. Some of you have mentioned a complete ban on trade with Cuba. You know right now the US sells a great deal to Cuba on a cash and carry basis. If we overturn this we have another fierce battle on the hill on our hands and again lends to the regime’s and our domestic enemies plans. THe way that trade is currently conducted protects american tax payers from CUba’s incurred debt. That is all that is important to the average american tax-payer.
What is very important is to keep the travel ban. I encourage you to see Mauricio Claver’s article in the herald. This is an excerpt:
• To keep hard currency out of the hands of Cuba’s repressive state police and military. The regulations now in place were carefully designed to deny financial support to Cuba’s Revolutionary Armed Forces, which own and operate Cuba’s tourism industry. If the United States were to lift restrictions on travel-related transactions, Cuba’s own Ministry of
Tourism has estimated that Cuba’s communist government would net an
additional $5 billion annually. That would be a subsidy five-times greater than what Venezuela’s Hugo Chávez now provides Cuba.
• To oppose the apartheid-like restrictions the Castro regime imposes on
the Cuban people. Most resorts in Cuba are segregated, beachfront
enclaves. Cuban nationals — although not Cuban Americans — are barred from hotels, beaches, restaurants, nightclubs and even medical clinics.
It is time to accept the reality that the influx of European and Canadian tourists during the last decade has not brought greater freedom to Cuba;it has only perpetrated a new kind of repression.
• To protect U.S. security interests. The State Department lists Cuba as one of the world’s five remaining state-sponsors of terrorism and, in 2007, reported that the regime ”maintains close relationships with other state sponsors of terrorism such as Iran and North Korea.” In the last five years, there have been more convictions in U.S. federal courts of individuals conducting espionage activities for the Cuban regime –including on the Central and Southern Command of the U.S. Armed Forces –than from any other country.
• To stand in unconditional solidarity with Cuba’s opposition leaders and political prisoners. From Eastern Europe to South Africa, sanctions have
historically signaled solidarity for democracy’s advocates and provided them with leverage to challenge their governments. Like Burmese democracy advocate and Nobel laureate, Aung San Suu Kyi, who has called on the world to ban travel to her country, Cuba’s opposition leaders recognize the importance of this leverage.
I am not even going to touch on an invasion. Those of you who advocate that…well your 45 years to late…plus…where are your rifles…when will you march? THought so…
So what is left…
Exactly what Henry and I have been talking about… Words, solidarity, support, grassroots democracy promotion…brining change from within…using the internal opposition in a peaceful way to bring about long lasting change…
cheomedalla,
“Things like rescinding the Kennedy-Khrushchev pact of 1962 that literally obligated the US to protect Cuba against US subjects funding or aiding subversion within Cuba.”
The Kennedy-Khrushchev pact of 1962 dissolved the minute the Soviet Union ceased to exist. Regardless, the United States will NEVER invade Cuba or allow Cuban-Americans to do it from this country. There are too many issues at stake.
Abajofidel,
“Get ready to welcome the Cuban ruling-elite to Miami as they dine in our restaurants and buy our condos.”
I’ve got news for you… They are already here! Besides, if you plan to sit this election out and let the likes of Obama and Clinton take the White House, please make sure to look in the mirror and say to yourself… It’s my fault and the fault of all those apathetic Cuban-Americans -that by not voting- contributed to their election.
By the way… Bill Clinton “did not remove the embargo” because it never made it to his desk! The embargo can only be removed through legislation. Clinton did not support Helms-Burton until 1996 -an election year- when Cuba shot down the Brothers to the Rescue planes.
If a Democrat wins the White House we’ll have a Democratic President with a Democratic Congress. Forget the Cuban issue. Think what that would do to the U.S.
Abajo Fidel… your right Bill did not remove the Enbargo… but he weaken the hell out of it… Under his watch 3 US Citizens and 1 American Resident were murdered by the regime and 1 young innocent boy was returned to the tropical hell… Not to mention all the wonderful bull shit people to people contacts that the young pot smoking average liberal american college student had with Cuban dissidents… o yea thats right they were to busy sipping mojitos in Varadero.
Clinton can kiss my A$$. McCain may not be a true GOPer but hell…on Cuba he is solid.
“The Kennedy-Khrushchev pact of 1962 dissolved the minute the Soviet Union ceased to exist.”
FALSE. Russia assumed all treaty obligations and benefits from the Soviet Union.
What to test this? Buy $100,000 worth of legal assault rifles and ammo, put them on a boat, and set sail for Havana with a few of your best buds. See how far you get before the ATF and/or US coastguard catches you and how many years you get in Federal Prison.
, if you plan to sit this election out and let the likes of Obama and Clinton take the White House, please make sure to look in the mirror and say to yourself…
I cant vote I live in PR. We are not allowed to vote for the President. One of many reasons why Puerto Ricans want to become the 51 State. So that they can have WORD, Representation in the house and in the senate
“FALSE. Russia assumed all treaty obligations and benefits from the Soviet Union.”
Russia is not the USSR, therefore it has no standing in these treaties, any more than North Dakota could up and assume all treaty obligations and benefits with other countries if the USA dissolved.
Russia can’t do this unless we let them, and apparently we have in some cases to placate Putin, but the actual treaties themselves are null and void on their face from sales of wheat to SALT to START to bans on THAAD and Star Wars and sharing research on how to combat the heartbreak of psoriasis and ring around the collar, etc.
First of all we’re talking about secret accords that nobody is completely familiar with the terms of. Secondly, my understanding and I’m not a lawyer is that this is like a contract. The USSR broke up but the contract can stay in place unless one of the parties abrogates it. Now I don’t know what the downside for Russia is in allowing the U.S. to abrogate it, but it’s almost a moot point. The U.S. ain’t gonna be doing any invading any time soon. Nor will it be allowing Cuban-Americans to go invading. This isn’t the 1950s or early 1960s.
I tell everyone who is reading this one thing. If Cuba lost ALL of its international support, the regime could not last 30 days. That is the ONLY sure way to bring the regime down. If the BTTR shootdown had occurred while a friend was in the White House, it could have been the event that breached the tipping point.
An invasion is unlikely but not impossible. All it would take is a big terror attack or a series of smaller ones in the US that were staged in Cuba with strong evidence that it was with the support or at least knowledge of the Cuban government, and a Republican or conservative Democrat in the White House.
But the Cuban government isn’t dumb enough to try or let something like that happen.
“Russia is not the USSR, therefore it has no standing in these treaties, any more than North Dakota could up and assume all treaty obligations and benefits with other countries if the USA dissolved.”
FALSE. As the undisputed head of the USSR, what later became the Russian Federation assumed all international treaty obligations and benefits of the USSR. It also inherited all assets of the USSR within its territory – including the nukes. The SALT treaties, The ABM Treaty, Space Arms Non-Proliferation, Nuclear Test Ban treaties, Cuban-Missile Crisis Agreements (not so secret anymore), etc. etc. The only thing I’m not sure of is how they divvied up the USSR’s foreign debt.
This is pretty old stuff.
I agree 100%, if the BTTR shoot down had happened under a different administration, perhaps those men’s deaths would have not been in vain.
Then again, there is good chance it would have never happened either.
Mama kastro didn’t raise no fools.